The following is a summary of WWDA's main goal
areas for the 1999 - 2000 year. The key strategies to meet each
goal are included. The complete WWDA Strategic Plan
contains goals, strategies, detailed targets and timelines,
resource implications, performance indicators and major outputs.
A copy of the detailed WWDA Strategic Plan 1999 - 2000 is available from the
National WWDA
Office. Copyright WWDA 1999.
GOAL 1: To research, analyse and take action on issues of
concern to women with disabilities falling within the policy
priorities of WWDA, including:
Violence (includes Sterilisation), Telecommunications (includes
Information Technology), Leadership and Mentoring, Health,
Ageing; Housing, Links to the women's movement, and
Organisational Development.
Goal Statement:
WWDA
will continue to provide reliable and high quality input on
issues of concern to women with disabilities. Any work done by
WWDA
will be thoroughly researched and documented. Data will be
acquired through processes involving consultation with women with
disabilities, other experts, service providers community
organisations and secondary research sources. The issues WWDA
researches will be in WWDA's policy
priorities. Specific projects will be taken up within these broad
topics. Other issues will be considered should they arise due to
newly developed government initiatives, media opportunities or
other unforeseen circumstances.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Conduct research; undertake analysis of research, develop
reports, develop research based policy recommendations
- Undertake consultation with women with disabilities, relevant
services, government and non-government bodies, agencies and
organisations.
- Undertake regular planning and review process within the
organisation.
- Develop networks which support the WWDA priority areas.
- Create debate and publicise research, reports, policies and
projects undertaken by WWDA.
GOAL 2: To initiate systemic change activities in specific
areas of concern to WWDA members: a)
Undertake advocacy work in the area of violence against women
with disabilities (including sterilisation); and b) Promote
access to telecommunications (including information technology)
for women with disabilities.
Goal Statement:
WWDA
members have consistently identified that violence against women
with disabilities is an area of major concern for them. With
regard to illegal sterilisation of women with disabilities,
WWDA
is committed to advancing the debate, raising awareness of the
issue, educating key stakeholders, and lobbying government to
recognise that illegal sterilisation of minors is not only a
criminal act but a violation of human rights. Women with
disabilities in Australia have also identified the need to be
included in the information technology revolution, particularly
the Internet (WWDA 1997). Access
to telecommunications is of major importance to women with
disabilities in Australia.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Further develop the WWDA Information
Kit on Women With Disabilities and Violence.
- Advocate for legislation, policy, services and organisations
to be more responsive to women with disabilities who have
experienced violence.
- Conduct a project on the information and education needs of
women with disabilities in relation to violence.
- Publish and sell the WWDA Violence
Against Women With Disabilities Workshop Report.
- Implement where possible the strategies developed at the
WWDA
National Violence Workshop.
- Continue to raise awareness of the issue of violence against
women with disabilities.
- Conduct a National Seminar on Sterilisation of Women with
Disabilities in Australia.
- Raise awareness of the issue of illegal sterilisation of
women with disabilities in Australia.
- Maintain the National WWDA Violence
Reference Group and develop a National Women With Disabilities
and Violence Network.
- Develop networks and working relationships with organisations
and services in the violence sector.
- Implement the WWDA "Improving
Access to Information Technologies for Women With Disabilities"
Project.
- Undertake a research project on Access to Telecommunications
for Women With Disabilities in Australia.
- Improve WWDA's
representation on Telecommunications Industry Forums and Consumer
Advisory Bodies.
GOAL 3: To contribute to systemic change via representation
on national committees, task forces and advisory bodies and by
initiating systemic change activities.
Goal Statement:
WWDA
will continue to contribute to systemic change via representation
on many national committees, task forces and advisory bodies.
WWDA
will continue to provide a range of leadership and mentoring
activities for its members to enable them to gain the confidence
and skills to undertake representation activities.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Provide representatives to Committees, Advisory Bodies etc
that are in line with WWDA's priority
areas.
- Participate in the National Caucus of Disability Consumer
Organisations (NCDCO).
- Promote leadership and mentoring opportunities for women with
disabilities.
- Ensure accountability of WWDA Committee
representatives to the National Executive Committee and the
broader WWDA membership.
- Advocate for legislation, policy, services and organisations
to be more responsive to, and inclusive of, women with
disabilities.
GOAL 4: To continue to establish and support WWDA groups and
national WWDA Networks
around the country.
Goal Statement:
WWDA
will continue to foster the establishment and development of
State and Territory WWDA groups. This
will assist in identifying and addressing the needs of women with
disabilities at a local level, as well as strengthening and
contributing to the growth of a strong, viable national
organisation for women with disabilities.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Continue to establish and develop WWDA branches in
States/Territories and regional areas.
- Further develop systems for regular and effective
communication with State/Territory and Regional WWDA groups.
- Work with State/Territory WWDA groups to
assist them to become self managing through the processes of
incorporation and self funding.
GOAL 5: To promote leadership skills of women with
disabilities.
Goal Statement:
Leadership is a major issue for women with disabilities in
Australia. Lack of training opportunities, employment and
education mean that women with disabilities have few chances to
develop leadership skills. In most states of Australia, education
for women with disabilities is not compulsory. As an
organisation, WWDA is very
committed to promoting leadership and mentoring for women with
disabilities in Australia. Enabling women with disabilities to
acquire new knowledge and skills, and by providing them with
opportunities for self-development and increased confidence, is
one way WWDA can work
towards achieving equality for women with disabilities in
Australia.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Implement the WWDA Leadership and
Mentoring Project.
- Conduct Leadership Workshops with women with disabilities in
each State/Territory.
- Encourage more WWDA members to
become actively involved in the organisation particularly in the
area of representation.
- Promote opportunities for WWDA members to
participate in WWDA
activities.
GOAL 6: To increase the membership and public profile of
WWDA.
Goal Statement:
WWDA
will continue to raise its public profile amongst all sectors and
levels of the community in order to increase the organisations
membership and meet the needs of women with disabilities in
Australia.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Promote WWDA at local,
regional, state, national and international levels using a wide
range of methods including: dissemination of material and
information on the organisation, its projects and activities; use
of the media; presence at government & non-government events
and forums; presence at public events and forums; representation
on committees; publishing of articles in newsletters, journals
etc.
- Produce a high quality newsletter.
- Develop and maintain a high quality WWDA Website.
- Expand and further develop networks which support the
WWDA
priority areas.
GOAL 7: To further develop and improve the organisation so as
to best serve WWDA's membership
and its aims and objectives.
Goal Statement:
WWDA
is a relatively new organisation. Many of the organisational
systems and structures are in place and functioning effectively
and efficiently. WWDA will continue
to develop and improve its organisation policies and procedures
to reflect the growth and changing needs of the organisation.
Key and Continuing Strategies:
- Undertake strategic planning processes.
- Develop organisational and operational policies in line with
relevant Service Standards, including: Disability Service
Standards; National Mental Health Standards; Standards for
Community and Other Primary Health Care Services (CHASP).
- Develop models of best practice in WWDA's main program
areas of: organisational development; violence; information
technology; leadership and mentoring; participation.
- Conduct an Annual General Meeting of the organisation.
- Continue to develop the roles and responsibilities of the
National Executive Committee.
- Establish links and partnerships with similar, relevant
organisations.
- Maintain the WWDA mailing list
database.
- Develop operational policies and procedures to guide the work
of the organisation.
- Develop information management systems which increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation.
- Undertake a leadership role within the disability and women's
sectors by developing Standards to guide the work of peak
disability and women's organisations.
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This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities
Australia.